Robin Harper
Robin Harper FRSSA | |
---|---|
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothians (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
In office 6 May 1999 – 22 March 2011 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Robin Charles Moreton Harper 4 August 1940 Thurso, Caithness, Scotland |
Political party | Independent (2023–present)[1] |
Other political affiliations | Scottish Greens (1985-2023) |
Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
Profession | Teacher |
Website | robinharper.wordpress.com |
Robin Charles Moreton Harper,
Early life and career
Harper was born in Thurso, Caithness. He was educated at St Marylebone Grammar School and Elgin Academy, Moray. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1962. He worked as an English teacher in Kenya, then a Modern Studies teacher at Boroughmuir High School, Edinburgh.[2]
Harper was a member of Lothian
Political career
Harper joined the
He stood, unsuccessfully, as a Green candidate in the 1995 Perth and Kinross by-election, and for Edinburgh Pentlands in the 1997 United Kingdom general election, finishing seventh and sixth respectively.[5][6]
Scottish Parliament
Harper stood for election at the first ever
In January 2007, The Scotsman reported that Harper was being considered for the next Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Harper stated that he did not know of this story, but said "it would be an honour even to be considered".[15] Following the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament, Harper was returned as a list MSP for the Lothians,[16] this time one of only two Green Party members elected.[17] After an agreement with the Scottish National Party, the party with the largest mandate from the election, the Green MSPs including Harper voted for Alex Salmond to become First Minister of Scotland but the Greens declined to enter a formal coalition with the Scottish National Party. As part of the deal, fellow Green MSP Patrick Harvie was nominated to head the Holyrood Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee.[18] In 2009, Harper and Harvie voted to reject an SNP government budget.[19] He did not seek re-election in 2011.[20]
After Parliament
Dear Mr. Harper, Harper's autobiography written with journalist Fred Bridgland, was published in 2011.[21]
In September 2014, Harper became chairman of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.[22] He remained in that role for three years.[23]
At the beginning of December 2013, Harper announced that he would "absolutely vote no" in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, going on to say that he would be happy to help the Better Together campaign and that there was a "significant minority" of Greens who were opposed to independence.[24]
In August 2021, Harper criticised the Bute House Agreement that the Greens had struck with Nicola Sturgeon's government, claiming that his party had failed to take tougher action on North Sea oil, marine protection and taxation.[25]
In September 2022, he joined the board of Gordon Brown's unionist think tank, Our Scottish Future.[26]
In August 2023, he announced that he had resigned from the Scottish Green Party, citing differences of opinion on independence and concerns over what he described as the party's move to the left.[27] Harper also stated his intention to vote Labour at the next election.[28][29]
Patronage
Harper has been a patron of many organisations including
He was President of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts 2008–2011.[32]
References
- ^ Andrews, Kieran (2 August 2023). "Robin Harper quits Greens over stance on trans rights and independence". The Times. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Black, Andrew (13 September 2008). "Constant force calls it a day". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "CV: Robin Harper". BBC News. 2 April 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "A Short History of the Scottish Green Party". Scottish Greens. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
- ^ Boothroyd, David. "Results of Byelections in the 1992-97 Parliament". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Vote2001: Results & Constituencies > Edinburgh Pentlands". BBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Historic Green victory". BBC News. 7 May 1999.
- ^ "Greens see red over executive shake-up". BBC News. 21 March 2001.
- ^ "Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Robin Harper". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Vote 2003 > Scottish Parliament election > region > Lothians". BBC News. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Greens in seven heaven". BBC News. 2 May 2003.
- ^ "Oath protest as MSPs start work". BBC News. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Robin Harper". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Scots win in 'Paxo' challenge". BBC News. 28 June 2004.
- ^ "Harper tipped to be Presiding Officer". Scotland on Sunday. 28 January 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ "Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Robin Harper". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Smaller parties suffer at polls". BBC News. 4 May 2007.
- ^ "SNP and Greens sign working deal". BBC News. 11 May 2007.
- ^ "Scottish budget rejected by MSPs". BBC News. 28 January 2009.
- ^ Black, Andrew (22 March 2011). "Scottish election: MSPs bidding farewell to Holyrood". BBC News.
- .
- ^ "News: Former Green MSP becomes Trust Chairman". scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk (Press release). Scottish Wildlife Trust. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ Smith, Susan (4 January 2017). "Major conservation body seeks new chair". Third Force News. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Robin Harper to vote No". The Scotsman. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Carrell, Severin; Brooks, Libby (26 August 2021). "Former Scottish Greens leader criticises 'disappointing' agreement with SNP". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ Webster, Laura (20 September 2022). "Gordon Brown launches new advisory board for his Unionist think tank – here's who's in". The National. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Robin Harper quits Scottish Greens as party has lost the plot". BBC News. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (3 August 2023). "Robin Harper says he will vote Labour after quitting Scottish Greens". Daily Record.
- ^ Harper, Robin (4 August 2023). "I am a builder not a destroyer - that's why I had to leave the Scottish Greens". Holyrood Website.
- ^ "New rector pledges to cut suicide rate". The Herald. Glasgow. 12 May 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ EUSOG. "the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group". Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Past Presidents". Royal Scottish Society of Arts. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
External links
- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Robin Harper
- Robin Harper – MSP for the Lothians website that was in use from 2006–2008